COASST Project (Image 6)

Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey (COASST) surveyors give a thumbs-up after the end of a long survey on the northern Washington coast. COASST is a citizen science program based at the University of Washington under the direction of Julia K. Parrish, a professor and associate director at the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. More than 600 "COASSTers" collect monthly data on seabird bird mortality at more than 300 beaches in the North Pacific, from California to Alaska. COASST believes citizens of coastal communities are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. By collaborating with citizens, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions.
COASST is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (grant DRL 11-14734). To learn more about NSF's support of citizen science projects see the NSF Discovery story Novel Answer to That Perennial "Earth Day" Question: "What Can I Do to Help?" To learn more about COASST, visit the project's website.
Credit: Courtesy COASST